Once the ride begins, and for the next 23 minutes, in addition to having front row seats you are virtually part of an action-packed thriller. To visualize this adrenaline-pumping experience, close your eyes and envision riding an out-of-control roller coaster, not knowing which direction the next sharp turn or the next slide down a steep embankment is going to take.
Door Peninsula consists of nearly 300 miles of shoreline. Lighthouses were necessary in the19th and 20th centuries to help sailors navigate the rocky shoreline and islands. No longer in use, many of these lighthouses are open for guided tours or self-exploration.
How would you like to linger over a cup of imported tea and change the lives of impoverished young Indian women all from the comfort of an easy chair? You don’t have to travel to India’s Darjeeling province to do that or enjoy a cup of smooth and mellow Golden Yunnan tea. Visit Atlanta’s bohemian neighborhood of Candler Park where Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party not only imports Indian tea but exports humanitarian aid through its nonprofit, The Learning Tree, which funds life scholarships for impoverished young Indian women.
One by one we boarded the old ranch van. Our tour guide, Karen, drove us to a restricted part of the ranch that includes Georgia O’Keeffe’s home. We walked in the arroyos and horse trails, being careful not to step off the trails and damage any of the fragile flora or fauna. The longtime drought had taken its toll on the landscape. Karen pointed out the tiny plants that were struggling to survive the hot, arid climate of New Mexico.
As you drive past sprawling vineyards and orchards ripe with juicy grapes, tart cherries, and crisp apples, you will see a rustic red barn perched amidst a 60-acre field of golden wheat. On first glance, you would not suspect this proud reminder of simpler days to be a sanctuary for those in need of relaxation.
Accessible only by sea, Las Caletas is a stunning tropical paradise located in an isolated cove just south of Puerto Vallarta. Once the home of Hollywood producer John Huston, who called it one of the most beautiful places in the world, this secluded nature preserve is nestled between the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains and the turquoise waters of Banderas Bay. By day, visitors can explore the flora and fauna of the jungle, snorkel in the crystalline secluded bay, or lie in a beach hammock and experience what many Mexicans call their “Garden of Eden.”
India’s capital city has a luscious little secret — it’s greener than it seems. The noise is big, the crowds are bigger, and crossing the road is downright terrifying. But concrete, dust, and traffic aside, Delhi has something for nature lovers, too. Nearly 10% of the city is covered in parks and gardens — paradoxical emerald jewels brightening Delhi’s smog-induced monochromatism. Spanning the gamut from manicured to wild, they are nothing short of necessary for a city deemed one of the world’s most polluted. The most prolific of the bunch are Delhi’s biodiversity parks — formerly barren plots restored to native habitats, some hundreds of acres in size and home to free-ranging fauna such as jungle cats, civets, and jackals.
Skiing on Long Island… is that even possible? Well, I was about to find out. After a little research, Wildwood State Park was the park of choice for this adventure. According to the Wildwood State Park description on the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation website, “Wildwood State Park comprises 600 acres of undeveloped hardwood forest terminating on the high bluff overlooking Long Island Sound.” At least it sounds picturesque. And we are in luck! Under Amenities and Activities, cross country skiing is on the list.
Once recalling the old adage about the journey and not the destination, we slowed down and realized that there was a lot to take in along the way. The busy street of Paseo de Reforma runs diagonally through the city and as though the street were created with a variety of uses in mind (not merely a thoroughfare for vehicle traffic) it is lined with grand sculptures, unique installations, and historic plaques. The large installations were just too tempting for our son to avoid climbing on and when we paused, we found a ton of unique views to snap photographs of. The beautiful pedestrian-friendly streetscape was our salvation in what became a three and a half hour journey.
Known as “gypsy” chickens, thousands of these feral fowl roam freely throughout Key West and are protected by city ordinance. While chickens have always been a colorful part of Key West history, their numbers increased during the 1950s. That’s when thousands of Cubans fled a politically oppressive regime to come work in Key West’s booming cigar industry — and brought their own chickens with them.
